Combined wrench and inflating mechanism



Dec. 13, 1927.

J. WAHL ET AL COMBINED WRENCH AND INFLATING MECHANISM Filed March 13,1926 NVENTGR By Attorneys, l wwwa? Patented Dea 13,1927.

JOHN wanner RosnDALE, AND ofrTo MELzEn, oF norms, NEW YORK, A.assIe'NoRs-fro A, scHRADER's soN, INC., or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION orNEW YORK.

COMBINED WRENCH'AND INFLATIING mEcHANrsM.

Application filed March 13, 1926. Serial No. 94,626..

In the manufacture of inner tubes for pneumatic tires and the like, thetubes, after being fitted with conventional valve stems, are subjectedto what is known as the rack test. This consists in inflat-ing the tubesunder low pressure and leaving them on racks for about twenty-fourhours, atl the expiration of which time, if the tubes still remaininflated they are passed as satisfactory, and if deflated, they varerejected or subjected to further tests to determine their defects.

As is well known, the valve stems are secured to the inner tubes byinserting the enlarged head of the stem into the valve stem opening inthe tube andfclamping said tube between said valvehead and a bridgewasher by means of a clamping nut threaded down over the valve stem.Because of the length of the valve stems, the nuts are at presentapplied to the stems by power wrenches. After the stems are fitted tothe tubes, the latter are subjected to the rack test before-mentioned.At present the threading of the nut on the valve stem and the inflationof the tube preparatory to subjecting it to the rack test constitute twoseparate operations. I

According to the present invention, we

3o provide a machine which will perform sind two operations withoutrehandling of the valve stem or tire. A preferred embodiment of ourmachine consists'of a wrench comprising a hollow and revoluble memberhaving means to receive a nut to be appliedto a threaded valve stem, andan inflating coupling within said hollow member having means forunseating the valve within the valve stem and allowing fluid underpressure 4o to pass through said valve stem to the tire. The inflatingoperation may be performed either rior tothreading the nut on -the stem,simultaneously therewith or after the nut has reached the end of itsjourney on the stem, but in all events as part of a single handlingoperation. The invention also consists in other features of noveltywhich will be hereinafter more fully described.

A preferred embodiment of our invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings,

wherein -Figure lis a longitudinal section of a Figs.- 4 -and 5 aresectional details taken Referring to the drawings, let A indicate asupporting member orframe having. bear-` ings B arid C, in whicharemounted hollow shafts D and E respectively. The shaft E islongitudinally aligned but axially spaced from, the shaft D, and adaptedfor limitedv 'longitudmal movement wit-h respect thereto,

for a purpose which will hereinafter be more apparent. Carried by theshaft E and movable therewith is a hollow wrench member F, the free endAof which is provided with a hexagonal socket f adapted to receive a nutto beapplied to al threaded valve stem.

The wrench member is rotatable through a drlve mechanism which consistsof clutch elements G and H, the former being a pulley fixed to the shaftD and provided with an mternal conical face g, and the latter amemberlixed to the shaft E and provided with a complemental conical faceh. Normally, these clutch elements are out of engagement and adapted tobe brought into clutching or drivmg engagement upon pressure beingexerted upon the shaft E through 'the wrench F in an axial directiontoward the pulley G.

Surrounding the wrench F is an enclosing casing/J which is secured tothe frame A, the free end of said casin terminatin substantially \flushwith the ree end of t el wrench F and formed with diametrically oppositetapered sockets y' adapted to receive the wings .of a vbridge washer Kwhile saidbridge washer and a nut L are'being applied to a valve Sgen) Mto secure the latter to an inner tube N. -The bridge washer, which isformed with an opening (not shown) of similar cross-section to the valvestem M, when applied thereover and fitted lwith its wings in the recessJ will function to revent rotation of the valve stem M whi e thenut L isbeing applied thereover, especially at the end of the journey of the nutL, where it is run up tightl against the bridge washer to clamp theatter to the inner tube.

Extending through the hollow shafts D and E is a member O provided witha longitudinal duct or passage o, the inner end of said memberterminating in a tire valve coupling, preferably positionedconcentrically with respect to the. wrench socket f, comprisin a valve Phaving a defiating pin p and gui e rod p and a packing gasket Q againstwhich the valve P normally seats, and which also serves to provide aseal with the end of the valve stem M. The other end of the member O isprovided with a nipple R, over which is fitted a exible tube o-leadingto a source of fluid pressure. The member O is adapted for axialmovementthrough the shafts D and E and is normally urged toward thesocket member f by a spring S which encircles a reduced portlon of themember O, one end ofthe spring seating against a shoulder o and theother end against one face of a supplemental bearmg T` which serves toguide the member O 1n its movements and to prevent rotation thereof. Forthis latter purpose the member T is formed with arib t engaging in agroove o2 formed in the member 0.

For the purplose of rendering eiiicient the operation of t 4e machine,the bearlngs are rovided with the customary anti-friction Eushings andlubricators.

In the operation ofthe machine, the member O is normaly held at itsinnermost posi- -tion by the spring S, the pulley G being row tated byany conventional source of power and the clutch elements separated. Ahexagonal nut L is then placed in the socket f, and an inner tube havingthe enlarged head of a valve stem M fitted therein and a bridge washer Kslipped over said stem, is grasped in the hand of the operator and thenipple end of the valve stem M is inserted through the nut L to bringthe threads of saidnut into engaging position with the threads on thevalve stem. Upon axial ressure being applied to the nutthrough t e valvestem M in the direction of the pulley G, the4 clutch element H is causedto engage with the pulley G, which causes rotation of the wrench F whichruns the nut Adown over the valve stem. Upon the insertion of the valvenip le through the nut-or after the nut proce s over the valve stem, thenipple end of said stem is brought into engagement with the packing Q ofthe coupling and the deilating pin p, whereupon the valve with the valvestem a-nd the valve P are unseated to Rermit Huid under pressure tolenter the tube When the nut L reaches/ the end of its journey and thewings of the bridge washer engage in the sockets j, all further tendencyof the wrench F to rotate is resisted, whereupon a slipping action takesplace between the clutch elements G and H. In practice, i

however, an operator can tell by the feel or rotational strain when thenut L has reached the end' of its journey, at which time the inflatedtube and stem are removed from the wrench member by merely withdrawingthe valve stem from said wrench member.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of ourinvention, we do not wish to be limited to the specificconstruction-disclosed, since it will be understood that variousmodificationsthereof may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention. For example. we do not wish` to b e limited tothe specific arrangement ofthe inflating coupling or the time at whichit functions to inflate 'the tire. so long as said iniiating action andnut threading on operations are accomplished through a single handlingoperation of the valve stem.

What we claim is:

l. In combination, a revoluble wrench comprising means to receive a n utto be applied to a threaded valve stem, and an iniiating means withinsaidwrench adapted to engage the valve stem when it is received` withinthe revoluble wrench, the application of the nut to the valve stem beingaccomplished approximately simultaneously with the engagement of thevalve stem by the inflating means.

2. In combination, a revoluble wrench comprising means to receive a nutto be applied to a threaded valve stem, and an inilating coupling withinsaid wrench adapted to engage said valve stem to permit fluid to passtherethrough as the, nut is applied to said valve stem, said inflatingcoupling being movable axially with respect to the wrench.

3. In combination, a wrench ycomprising a. hollow revoluble memberhaving means to receive a nut to be applied to a threaded valve stem,and an intlating coupling within the. hollow member adapted to engagesaid valve .stem to the rear of the means for receiving the nut topermitfluid to pass through said valve stem as the nut is applied tosaid valve stem.

4. In combination, a revoluble wrench comprisingl means to receive a nutto be applied to a threaded valve stem, and an iniiating coupling withinsaid wrench adapted to engage the valve stem to permit fluidto passtherethrough as the nut is applied to said valve stem, said couplingbeing positioned concentrically with respect to the means for receivingthe nut.

5. In combination, a wrench comprising a hollow revoluble member havingmeans to receive a' nut to be'applied to a threaded 'valve Ystem, aninflating coupling coaxially arranged within the hollow member adaptedto engage said valve stem tothe rear of the means for receiving the nutto permit fluid -to pass through sald valve stem as the nut is appliedto said valve stem, said inating coupling being movable with respect tothe hollow members, and spring means pressing said inflating couplingtoward the nut-receiving means l 6. In combination, a wrench comprisinga hollow and -revoluble member having means to receive a nut to beapplied to a. threaded valve stem, a driving member for the wrenchnormally disconnected therefrom and arranged for automatic connection bythe pressure of the valve stem on the'nutto rotate said wrench and applythe nut, and an inflating coupling within said hollow member lhavingvalve-unseating means adapted to unseat the valve within said valve stemand allow compressed air to pass through said valve stem as the nut isapplied to sald valve stem. i

7. In combinatlon, a.wrench comprising a v engagement bythe pressure ofthe va ve stem on the nut, a tubular member within the ldriven shaft andhollow memberp'movable axially withl relation thereto, an inflatingcoupling carried by said tubular member at its ends adjacent thenut-receiving means on the hollow member, said inflatin coupling beingadapted i to permit Hui to, pass through said valve stem as the nut isapplled to said vvalve'stem, and spring means'normally urging theintlating coupling toward said nut-receivin .means y.

In witness w ereof, we have hereunto signed'our names.

JOHNA WAHL.

OTTO MELZER.

